There are many myths about doing business in Russia and working with Russians. Some are true, others are not. Admittedly, gone are the bad old days, when people just walked into a hotel lobby and shot their competitors. However, there are still some things that you should know before taking the big step toward doing business there. After all, if this big step is in the wrong direction, it may well be the last one you will be taking.

In this article, Matthew Francis, a leading expert on Russian Business, looks at just some of the ways that Russian businesses ensure they stay one step ahead of their competitors. This advice is not to be followed by anyone thinking of setting up an office out there however, but it is certainly valuable information to be aware of!

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These are the top 5 ways to stay ahead of the pack when doing business in Russia.

Secret1

Make sure the business is not in your own name. Ideally find a student who has no idea what the document are that he or she is signing. Then if your company loses money or ‘forgets’ to pay its tax, the authorities won’t come and find you.

Secret 2

Hire the most attractive woman you can find, dress her in a short skirt and make sure she knows just one phrase in English, ‘Hello, is there anything you need?’ That’s all she needs to know.

Secret 3

Find the highest government official you can. Buy him a large German motor-car and pay for his children to go to a top school in England. Then, most important here, make sure he knows he owes you a BIG favour.

Secret 4

Meet up with foreign politicians, ideally those that have failed in a number of political roles. Convince them that you are really important in Russia by taking them for a ride on your BIG boat. The watch the contracts come flooding in, literally.

Secret 5

Gain a competitive advantage. Forget the management theory and throw away the textbooks. The only way to ensure your business is more successful than your competitors is to get rid of them. If Secret 3 and 4 have been achieved, there is nothing to worry about.

You may decide to stay in Russia for various reasons; you may have landed a very good job in Moscow or are on a business trip to the city, or may be you are just vacationing with your friends and family. The best option is to stay at Moscow Russia apartments. You have the option to rent short-term, medium-term or long-term apartments, and you could also buy an apartment of your choice if you want to.

The first thing that you need to decide on is the location of your apartment. Have an understanding of the layout of the largest city of Russia – Moscow; this will help you know where exactly you want your dream apartment to be located. Factors like the location of a subway station, restaurants, museums, major sights, and supermarkets should help you decide better.

You can search on the Internet for detailed information on apartments that are available for rent or sale in Moscow. You will get an idea of the prices that are charged for the different types of apartments and also get to know the kind of amenities and services provided. You can also contact the owner of the apartment if contact details are available.

You can also contact the real estate agency and apply for finding an apartment in Moscow. You can easily find agencies where the staff speaks both English and Russian. A visit to the apartment with the agent should be made before booking it. If you do not like an apartment, do not hesitate to state that clearly to the agent. Rejections will help the agent understand what you want actually and offer you the best accommodation available within your budget.

Check if the landlord has all the required documents supporting his legal ownership over the apartment. You can also ask the agency to do that for you. You also need to know if the centralized warming system is functioning properly. After you have found your apartment, it will be time for payments. Pay the first month’s rent to the landlord. The monthly rent amount also needs to be paid to the real estate agent as fees, and the same amount will also need to be paid as deposit.